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Derry to discuss water contract

DERRY - A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday night's Town Council meeting on a 25-year water supply renewal agreement between the town and Manchester Water Works.

According to Tom Carrier, deputy public works director, the long-term agreement will insure the water supply needs of the town are met for the foreseeable future.

This would be the renewal of an agreement that was made in May of 1998 and expires on May 27, 2013, according to Carrier.

"In January of this year, Derry informed Manchester Water Works of our intention to renew the agreement," said Carrier. "Mr. Thomas Bowen, director of Manchester Water Works, and his staff drafted a new agreement and forwarded it to Derry for our consideration."

Back in 1990, as part of the Derry municipal water system master plan, an extensive analysis was done relative to the water supply availability in Derry. Alternatives to Manchester Water Works including local surface water and groundwater supplies were considered, but it was concluded that Manchester Water Works was the most attractive of all local or regional water supply alternatives available to the town.

"Derry and Manchester Water Works have made long-term commitments to each other in terms of securing water supply for Derry into the future," said Carrier. "Derry currently purchases 2.9 million gallons per day of capacity in Manchester Water Works' system and has made significant investments in water transmission pipelines between Derry and Manchester Water Works."

"In 2012, Derry's purchased water from Manchester Water Works averaged just over 1.4 million gallons per day and our peak monthly use was 1.8 million gallons per day," said Carrier.

He said this allows for 1.1 million gallons per day, or a 60 percent additional growth in the Derry system over the next 25 years.

According to Carrier, the proposed new agreement is substantively the same as the current agreement. He stated the wholesale rate has bee revised from $0.595 to $0.988 per 100 cubic feet to reflect the most recent Manchester Water Works rate increase.

The Town Council meets on Tuesday, March 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the Derry Municipal Center.